I hope you are wrong Laundry after all TJay has mad a bet for Andy to win and we can't have her lose her money.

Thanks for the concern about my finances lol. Believe me, it isn't the money that worries me, although the £90 or so I'll get back if he does it would be quite welcome lol. I just really think he has a brilliant chance. I'd certainly put his chances at least on a par with where Andy was going in to the USO, or even slightly higher, given that he has won a major now and knows how to do it. Also, should Andy find himself in the final he will be able to have a positive memory to draw on, having won the USO, and the Olympics of course, whereas in the past he had the barrier of major final losses to overcome.

I can sort of see where people could say that the situation with Ross Hutchins could distract Andy, given that they are close, but Andy is a pro. I think all of those at the top have ways of blocking things out and focusing on the matter in hand. Also, Andy has the support of a good team around him. I'm sure they will do everything to make sure Andy is focused and as ready as he can be.

Forgot to say before, that third option in the poll made me laugh. Hope that doesn't happen!

Thanks for the concern about my finances lol. Believe me, it isn't the money that worries me, although the £90 or so I'll get back if he does it would be quite welcome lol. I just really think he has a brilliant chance. I'd certainly put his chances at least on a par with where Andy was going in to the USO, or even slightly higher, given that he has won a major now and knows how to do it. Also, should Andy find himself in the final he will be able to have a positive memory to draw on, having won the USO, and the Olympics of course, whereas in the past he had the barrier of major final losses to overcome.

I can sort of see where people could say that the situation with Ross Hutchins could distract Andy, given that they are close, but Andy is a pro. I think all of those at the top have ways of blocking things out and focusing on the matter in hand. Also, Andy has the support of a good team around him. I'm sure they will do everything to make sure Andy is focused and as ready as he can be.

Forgot to say before, that third option in the poll made me laugh. Hope that doesn't happen!

tj I think the news about Ross got to him in Brisbane because it was still so fresh and he must have been reeling from the shock still. But I think he'll be able to put it out of his mind while preparing/playing and it will be reassuring for him to know that Ross is going into treatment with such a positive frame of mind.

I believe that Andy heard from Ross on the 27th Dec, and he was in Abu Dhabi, that is why he lost in the first match, he must have been reeling. Ross said Andy was the first person he contacted apart from his family...he would have still be coming to terms with the news in Brisbane and how he could support Ross, by now I feel that he will be determined to go all the way in Melbourne for Ross.

I don't care about the conditions. I've just picked up a vibe in his mentality - that it isn't quite where it should be and I have a feeling it's going to be a stumbling block for him.

Allow me to decode ^^.

What laundry is trying to say is that, he has money put on Nole or Federer and he doesn't want to lose that money. It's apparently the spare money he has 'by chance'. He's not your typical betting man otherwise...only plays regularly.

What people forget is that, all those losses came at year-end, when everyone was feeling a bit - Andy even more so, as he had seen the most success by then (Wimbledon final, Olympic Gold and USO title). Not to mention, it was Andy's 1st Major win so obviously he was still very overwhelmed by it. This is the start of a new year and Andy should feel fresh. He usually does it very well here at AO. He has his threats but if he's mentally still together, then those aren't threats. The only possible real threat I see if some of his matches end up being longer than they should be, so the draws are a big deal at this point. So I don’t really see how anyone can deduct something so conclusive without looking at the draws first.